Limerick win place in Croke Park final

Limerick 2-10 Meath 0-8

Limerick's Camogie team ensured that the county would have a presence in Croke Park finals this December by beating Meath in the Intermediate Championship on Saturday.

Limerick went into the game, which was played in Banagher, Co. Offaly, as favourites as the Division Two champions had beaten Meath when the two sides met earlier in the season. However last year's Junior champions showed great tenacity from the off and opened the scoring after centre-back Kristina Troy went on a solo from the middle of the field winning a free which Jane Dolan converted. Limerick responded with an excellent point from play from full forward Mary O'Callaghan. Niamh Mulcahy added a free shortly after and another which was won after Marie Keating played an excellent ball into corner forward Dymphna O'Brien who was fouled as she headed for goal. Another free won by Katie Campbell and converted by Niamh Mulcahy made it Limerick 0-4 Meath 0-1.

Meath were competitive throughout the first half and was it not for some wayward shooting both from play and placed ball would have been closer. Corner forward Lizzie Brennan did score a point from play but Limerick added four more before half time three from Niamh Mulcahy two frees, one from play and another point from Mary O'Callaghan to leave the score at half time Limerick 0-8 Meath 0-2. It could have been worse as just before the break Síle Moynihan had to pull off a dramatic save to deny Meath corner forward Aileen Donnelly.

Limerick started brightly in the second half when a shot from Marie Keating went narrowly wide. the next passage of play saw Niamh Mulcahy solo forward and her handpass to found Dymphna O'Brien who attacked the goal and kicked the ball into the net to open up a 9 point lead. Limerick 1-8 Meath 0-2. Meath responded well to the goal and successive waves of pressure meant they won three frees which were converted by Jane Dolan to bring the margin back to 6 points.

The next Limerick attack restored the 9 point margin as Mary O'Callaghan shot for goal only to be denied but Dymphna O'Brien was on hand and hit the ball into the back of the net for her and Limerick's second goal. At this point Joe Quaid introduced fresh legs as Meadhbh O'Neill replaced the hard-working Katie Campbell.

Throughout the game Meath were strong going forward and it was only determined defending from the Limerick defense particularly the half backs Mairéad Ryan, Michelle Casey and Rebecca Delee that kept the Meath scoreline down. From one such attack Mairéad Ryan broke from defense and passed to Caoimhe Costello who soloed towards goal shooting an excellent point from play. Limerick 2-9 Meath 0-5. Meath scored another free from Jane Dolan before Niamh Mulcahy brought her tally for the day to 0-7 with her second point from play. The excellent Meath wing forward Sinéad Hackett got the games final point to leave the score at the final whistle Limerick 2-10 Meath 0-8.

A well deserved victory for the Limerick girls who will meet Galway in the final after the tribeswomen beat Waterford by 1-15 to 1-7. Galway will also play in the senior final as they go head to head with Kilkenny and the Junior final will see Laois play Kildare.

All three finals will be played in Croke Park on 15th September with the Intermediate game throwing-in at 2pm. Congratulations to the Limerick players and management and we encourage all Limerick supporters to make the trip to Croke Park to get behind the girls.